Healthy Nine-Year-Old Girl Suffers Major Stroke During Gymnastics Class
When Laura Stockley's mobile phone rang during a routine supermarket trip on a Friday afternoon, she anticipated the kind of call every parent dreads. Her daughter Scarlett was at her gymnastics class, so Laura's immediate thought was that she might have taken a fall and broken a bone.
"When they told me she was having a seizure, I just went into a state of panic," recalled Laura, 41. Abandoning her shopping trolley immediately, she rushed straight to her car to reach her daughter.
Rushed to Hospital with Serious Brain Injury
By the time Laura arrived at the scene, Scarlett was completely unresponsive. The ambulance crew suspected a serious brain injury and transported her urgently to their local hospital in Hastings. For the family, the shock was profound when scans revealed a massive brain bleed caused by a previously undetected arteriovenous malformation, known as an AVM.
"It's basically a tangulation of blood vessels in your brain, which you're born with. You don't know you have one until it's too late. We could all have one. It's like a ticking time bomb," explained Laura.
Scarlett was quickly transferred to King's College Hospital in London, where surgeons informed her parents that immediate surgery was necessary to save her life. "They told me if they didn't do the surgery, she wouldn't make it through the night," Laura revealed.
Multiple Surgeries and Intensive Care
The young girl underwent surgery from 10pm until 3am. Less than 48 hours later, she began seizing again as dangerous swelling increased pressure in her brain. This necessitated a craniotomy, followed by more than two weeks in intensive care.
"After she came round, they were weaning her off her drugs just to see if she even recognised us," Laura shared. "They didn't know how brain damaged she was. We were just holding our breath. At first you're begging 'please survive this'. Then you're pleading 'please don't be brain dead'. Then you're thinking 'she can't be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life'."
Scarlett had effectively suffered a stroke, leaving her unable to talk, walk, or eat. She had to relearn basic skills through intensive rehabilitation on the ward. Doctors later confirmed she had been left with left-sided hemiplegia and hemiplegic cerebral palsy, meaning her left arm will only ever function as a supporting arm.
Ongoing Medical Challenges and Recovery
Five months after the initial brain bleed, Scarlett was discharged from hospital, but her surgical wound failed to heal properly. On her tenth birthday, Laura and her husband Lee returned to King's College Hospital after discovering that "the screw was physically coming out of her head."
Scarlett had developed a severe skull infection, requiring surgeons to remove a section of bone. This left her without part of her skull for more than three months, during which time she had to wear a protective white helmet.
To date, Scarlett has undergone nine major surgeries involving plates, skin grafts, and extended antibiotic treatments, with more operations likely in the future. Despite these challenges, Laura emphasized her daughter's resilience: "Believe it or not, she's the strongest she's ever been. She's such a positive force. Anywhere she goes, she just lights up the room."
Financial Strain and Specialized Therapy
The family faces significant financial pressures due to Scarlett's ongoing physiotherapy, which costs approximately £16,000 annually. They have covered these expenses through crowdfunding efforts. Through King's College Hospital, Laura discovered NeuroKinex, a specialist centre in Crawley for people with neurological injuries. The family now makes a three-hour round trip twice weekly from Hastings to access this crucial therapy.
Laura has given up her job at her parents' pub to provide full-time care for Scarlett, while Lee, a self-employed carpenter, has maintained the household. "It felt like we became single parents," Laura admitted.
Return to School and Special Moments
Scarlett missed substantial schooling, including the final term of Year 4, all of Year 5, and most of Year 6. She has only recently returned to school for three hours daily. While still hospitalized, the children's charity Rays of Sunshine granted Scarlett's wish to attend the film premiere of Wicked in November 2025.
"She'll remember it for the rest of her life, and we still talk about it all the time," Laura said of this special experience.
Nearly two years after the initial stroke, specialist therapy has made noticeable improvements in Scarlett's condition. While doctors have indicated she won't make a full recovery, Laura maintains hope: "I can't help thinking she will. I've got to think that way. She believes in herself so much."
Reflecting on their journey, Laura added: "When I look at photos of how she was to how she is now, it just breaks my heart. But she's lucky to be with us and we are so lucky to have her."
